Couch fabric.



c. s. HOPKINS.

coucH FABRIC.

APPLICATION F ILED NOV. 30.1917.

1,276,919. Patented Aug 27, 1918.

CLAUDE s. Horxms, OF'DAYTON', OHIO. c

COUCH FABRIC.

Application filed NovemberBO, 1917. i serau No. 204,583.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known thatI, CLAUDE S. HOPKINS, a cltlzen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Couch Fabrics, of which the following is aspecification.

I My invention concerns improvements in metallic couch or bed-bottom fabrics, and pertains more especiallyto those ofthe articulated wire type, ordinarily resiliently fastened to the supporting frame by helical springs. The prime object of .thepresent invention is the production of a structure of this general character which will be strong, simple in structure, economical to manufacture, easy to assemble, and which may be shipped and transported in compact form without difliculty.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of an appliance of this type in which single-strand wire elements are employed, and in which the cross-links are effectively heldagainst displacement longitudinally of the structure. i

In order that those skilled in this art ma have a full and complete understanding of this invention and its various advantages, I have, illustrated a preferred embodiment of the same in the accompanying drawings to which reference, should'fbe had in connection with the following detailed description of the construction, and throughout the various views of which like reference characters refer to the same parts; 1

In thedrawingi f Figure 1 is a partial plan view of' the structure;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, and

Fig. 3c i a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner of attaching the crosslinks to the lengthwise members of the fabric.

Referring to the drawing, it will be clear that the longitudinal elements of the fabric comprise a plurality of single-strand lengths of wire 10 extending from end to end of the structure with their terminal portions securely fastened by means of the usualhelical or spiral springs 11 to the frame 12. At equal intervals each of these lengthwise wires is laterally kinked or deflected at 13 to afi'ord convenient means for the eifective connection of the cross-links 1 1, the kinks of the various Wires being in straight rows I Specification of Letters Patent.

crosswise of the fabric. Eachs'ingle-strand wire cross-linkhas a downturned hook or loop-shaped end 15' engaging thekinked or bent portion of one of the longitudinal members 10, and at its other end each cross-link is bent to form a double-loop or bifurcated portion '16, 17, engaging the next adjacent lengthwise wire 10 on opposite sides of the corresponding kink thereof, and, of course, ncess'arily on opposite sides of the hook-end of another adjacent cross-link cooperating with such kink. Stated somewhat differently, each cross-linkis bent around the lengthwise wire 10 at each side of a kink 13 to provide a loop or eye 16 at an obtuse angle to the main body of the link, and is then bent around the same wire 10 at the opposite side of the kink to form a second loop or hook at another obtuse angle to thelength of the cross-link, these two loops or eyes-forming a bifurcated or divided end for the cross-link. As is clearly shown, the kink of wire 10 and the pair of loops of the cross-link form a horizontal substantially square closed eye or aperture into which the downturned hook-end of the next c cross-link fits. The angle of the kinks is such that the'double or divergent loops of the cross-links can not slide along the wires 10 and, consequently, they prevent the hookends 15 of the transverse links from sliding along the lengthwise .wires and thus becom- 1 ing displaced. The metallic fabric can be readily folded for transportation and within this application, by making the various members comprising the fabric of a single length'or strand of wire, the fabric can be constructed at a minimum of expense and can yet be so made as to afford suflicient strength for all ordinary purposes;

I claim:

1. In a couch-fabric construction, the combination of a plurality of longitudinal member .ki lsel atisterral a d cross-links each having an end portion engagingoneof said kinks and an opposite end portion straddling the corresponding kink of an adjacent longitudinal member, substantiallyas described.

2: In acouch-fabric construction, :the combination of a plurality of single-strand longitudinal memberskinked at intervals, 1 and cross-links having an end portion e111 gaging one of said kinks and an opposite .combination of a plurality of single-strand longitudinal members continuous from endto end of the fabric and kinked at intervals, and single-strand cross-links'each having an end portion engaging one of said kinks and an opposite ,endportion straddling the corresponding kink of an adjacent longitudinal member, substantially as described.

5. .In a couch-fabric construction, the combination of a plurality of single-strand longitudinal members kinked laterallyat intewals, and cross-links having an end portion engaging one of a said kinks and an opposite end portion straddling the firstmentioned end portion of a companion cross-link engaging the kink of the adjacent .longitudlnal cross-member, substantlally as described. I k e 6.'In a couch-fabric construction of the character described, the combination of 'a plurality of single-strand longitudinalmembers continuous from end to end of thefab- .ric and kinked laterally at intervals, and

single-strand cross-links, each having an end portion engaging one of sardkmksaiid-an opposite end port on straddling the 'firstmentioned end portion of a companion HCIOSS-llllk engaging the kink of the ad acent lon itudinal member, substantially as descri ed.

7. In a couch-fabric construction of the character described, the combination for a plurality of spaced longitudinal members and associated single-strand cross-links,

each of the latter engaging one of saidanemhere at one end and bent at its other end to provide'two spaced loops both engaging a companion longitudinal member, substantially as described.

8.111 a couch-fabric construction of the character describedythe combination of a plurality of spaced longitudinal singlestrand members and associated single-strand cross-links, each of the latter engaging one,

of said-members at one end and bent at its other I end to provide two divergent loops both engaging a companion longitudinal member, substantially as described,

9. In a couch-fabric construction ofthe character described, the combination of a vals, and associated independent single;

strand cross-links, each'offthe'latter engaging one of the kinks of said members at one end and-bent at its other end toprovide t'wo spaced loops both engaging a companion longitudinal member on opposite sides ofthe first-mentioned end of an adjacent crosslink cooperating With one stantially as described.

of the .kinks, sub- CLAUDE s. HOPKINS.

G9piesef'th1apatent mayhe obtained fordive cents each, byxaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, washingtomng. 

